Ecosystem Monitoring

Ensuring the sustainability and diversity of Manitoba's terrestrial ecosystems is accomplished through environmental monitoring. Natural receptors, such as vegetation, soils, snow, water, and animal life, are sampled and tested using a variety of techniques. These results provide detailed information about the condition of ecosystems, and help in determining the impact that current and future land use practices and developments may have on the structure and function of these systems.

The smelter monitoring program is an ongoing multi-component program aimed at assessing the impacts of atmospheric emissions from mining and smelting operations on urban and natural environments in and around Flin Flon and Thompson in northern Manitoba. The potential effects of acid rain on boreal forest vegetation and soil are monitored by regular visits to a series of permanent monitoring sites established under the ARNEWS (Acid Rain National Early Warning System) program.

Other monitoring programs and studies are conducted to collect pre-disturbance baseline environmental data, characterize impacted sites and natural communities, and assess the progress of remediation and restoration.

As well, surveys and investigations are conducted periodically to provide insight into the structure and organization of natural communities of special interest and ecological significance. Examples include a detailed floristic inventory of the Fort Whyte Alive property [PDF 740 KB] in southwest Winnipeg and a botanical survey of the Brokenhead Wetland Ecological Reserve [PDF 2.5 MB] north of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation on PTH 59, between Gull Lake and Lake Beaconia.

A complete list of ecosystem monitoring publications is available on this website. Publications can be obtained on loan from the Conservation and Environment Library. PDF documents are available where indicated. Publications not available as PDF files may be obtained by emailing the Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection Branch.